Apparatus for rinsing bed pans



p 1, 1965 R. R. GIDNER 3,206,769

APPARATUS FOR RINSING BED PANS Filed Aug. 26, 1965 INVENTOR. QT 1?.6/04 51? BY m Kw United States Patent 3,206,769 APPARATUS FOR RINSING BED PANS Robert R. Gidner, Fairview, Pa., assignor to American Sterilizer Company, Falrvicw, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 304,546 4 Claims. (Cl. 47)

This invention relates to apparatus for rinsing bed pans after they have been emptied into a toilet bowl or other waste receiver.

This apparatus may be manufactured and installed in combination with an original, conventional type of toilet and associated plumbing or as an attachment to the existing standard toilet plumbing.

Generally, an object of the present invention is to provide a bed pan rinsing device of the character above stated which is simple and practical in construction, which requires no maintenance, and which is easy to install, easy and convenient to use, and highly efficient in sanitary operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved diverter valve assembly, including an operating spout therefor. The valve is embodied in combination with the plumbing of a toilet and is closed by the moving of the spout when the spout is normally swung into its uppermost position out of the way and out of use. The valve is opened when the spout is swung down into its lowermost position. In this position, the valve diverts water from the toilet plumbing through the valve and spout. The water from the spout may be directed into a bed pan held under the lower end of the spout for rinsing out the bed pan with the water from the plumbing and spout into the toilet bowl below the bed pan.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, efiicient diverter valve and bed pan washing device in combination with a toilet.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a valve in combination with a toilet according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the diverter valve.

Now with more particular reference to the drawing, a toilet is generally shown at 10. The toilet has -a conventional bowl 11 and a flush tank 12 which are shown by way of illustration and represent an example of any of the conventional type water closets now in use.

An L-shaped bracket 13 has its horizontal leg fixed to the toilet flush tank 12. The bracket 13 could be fixed to a water supply line 14 or other suitable support. A water supply line 30 is connected through a conventional shut off valve 15 which has a second outlet so that water from both the lines 14 and 29 can be shut off from the line 30. The line 30 may be a flexible line such as polyethylene or rubber hose. The L-shaped bracket 13 has a horizontal part and a vertically extending part. The vertically extending part terminates at its upper end in a U-shaped bracket 16 having spaced ears which receive an axle 17.

The axle 17 may be attached to a diverter valve 22. A spray head 20 is rigidly fixed to a hollow arm 21. The hollow arm 21 may be in the form of a rigid pipe ICE which conducts water from the diverter valve 22 to the spray head 20.

The diverter valve 22 is a whistle or poppet type valve. The valve 22 has a plunger 32 which is urged against a seat 33 by a spring 23. The valve also has a partition 34 therein which has an opening which is definedby the valve seat 33 and a cap 24 which forms a seal by means of gasket 25. Thus, when water in the hose or line 29 is applied under pressure anda poppet member 27 is depressed, it will compress the spring 23 and move the plunger 32 out of engagement with the seat 33, thereby allowing water to flow.

In operation, when the arm 21 is swung to the horizontal position, the poppet member or actuating member 27 will be forced against the horizontal part of the U- shaped bracket 16. This will depress the actuating member 27 and open the valve 22. Thus, water under pressure will flow through the arm 21, irrespective of whether or not the toilet is flushed. When the operator has a bed pan completely clean, she will merely swing the arm 21 to the vertical position and this will bring the actuating member 27 to a horizontal position out of engagement with the U-shaped bracket 16 which will turn 01f the water.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but it is understood that the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as in commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination, a toilet and a spray for washing bed pans comprising a toilet of the flushing type having a bowl adapted to be connected to a drain,

a valve,

said valve having a hollow body with an inlet, an outlet, and a partition therebetween,

said partition having an opening therethrough with a valve seat around said opening,

a valve member,

a spring urging said valve member into seating engagement with said valve seat,

an actuating member engaging said valve member and extending to the outside of said body,

means swingably supporting said body on said toilet,

a flexible tube connecting said inlet of said valve to a supply of water under pressure,

a rigid tubular arm rigidly connected to said outlet,

said rigid arm being swingable to a vertical position behind the seat of said toilet to a horizontal position over said bowl where the distal end of said rigid arm overlies said toilet bowl and said arm directs water downwardly into said bowl,

and means on said supporting means engaging and actuating said actuating member when said arm is swung to a horizontal position to allow water to flow through said arm.

2. In combination, a toilet and a spray for washing bed pans comprising a toilet of the flushing type having a bowl. adapted to be connected to a drain,

a flushing mechanism adapted to have a supply of water under pressure connected thereto,

a valve of the poppet type having an inlet and an outlet and a poppet type actuating member, said valve inlet being connected to said water a hollow arm connected to said valve outlet,

a bracket,

supply,

1 and an axle swingably supporting said valve on said bracket,

said arm and said valve being swing-able to a vertical position whereby said poppet valve actuating member is moved away from said bracket and said valve is closed,

said arm being swingable to a generally horizontal position with said poppet valve actuating member engaging said bracket whereby said valve is opened, allowing a passage from said Water supply through said valve and said arm.

3. In combination, a toilet and a spray for Washing bed pans comprising a toilet of the flushing type having a bowl adapted to be connected to a drain,

a flushing mechanism adapted to have a supply of water under pressure connected thereto,

' a poppet type valve having an actuating member,

a spray arm fixed to said valve and operatively and swingably supporting said valve on said toilet,

' and means operatively connected to said spray arm and engaging said actuating member turning the water on in said spray arm when said spray arm is swung to operative position over said toilet.

4. In combination, a water closet and a spray arm for washing bed pans over said Water closet,

said water closet having a supply line for flushing water connected thereto, 7

on said axle a diverter valve having an actuating member thereon supported on said water closet, 1

a flexible line connecting said water from said supply line to said diverter valve and spray arm and being fixed to said diverter valve,

means fixed to said closet engaging said actuating member actuating said diverter valve whereby said diverter valve connects water from said supply line through said flexible line when said arm is swung into operative position over said closet,

and a nozzle on the distal end of said arm directing the spray downwardly when said arm is in a generally horizontal position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 779,164 1/04 Jamison 47 1,521,892 1/25 Koppin 4--7 1,818,388 8/31 Farley 4-7 2,024,930 12/35 Judell 4148 2,344,561 3/44 Popil 4-7 2,956,285 10/60 Jewell 47 FOREIGN PATENTS 565,704 8/57 Italy.

LEWIS J. LENNY, Primary Examiner. EDWARD v. BENHAM, Examiner. 

3. IN COMBINATION, A TOILET AND A SPRAY FOR WASHING BED PANS COMPRISINGA TOILET OF THE FLUSHING TYPE HAVING A BOWL ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A DRAIN, A FLUSHING MECHANISM ADAPTED TO HAVE A SUPPLY OF WATER UNDER PRESSURE CONNECTED THERETO, A POPPET TYPE VALVE HAVING AN ACTUATING MEMBER, A SPRAY ARM FIXED TO SAID VALVE AND OPERATIVELY AND SWINGABLY SUPPORTING SAID VALVE ON SAID TOILET, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SPRAY ARM AND ENGAGING SAID ACTUATING MEMBER TURNING THE WATER ON IN SAID SPRAY ARM WHEN SAID SPRAY ARM IS SWUNG TO OPERATIVE POSITION OVER SAID TOILET. 